A COMPUTER STUDY OF SYSTEMATIC SOUND SYMBOLISM IN CLASSICAL JAPANESE VERSE

The analysis of sound symbolism in poetry is one of the more promising applications of computational methods. This paper proposes using data base software with spreadsheet capabilities to give maximum versatilit y in the examination of consonant alliteration. In this case the datab ase is drawn from a 10th century anthology of classical Japanese verse called the Kokinshu. In recent years scholars have pointed out a few obvious examples of sound symbolism in Kokinshu poetry. This study att empts to show that with these few notable exceptions, poetry of the pe riod seems to have striven toward a balance in sound, avoiding techniq ues such as word initial alliteration which might call attention to it self.